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Abbie1948 Posted 21 years ago
Linguistics Studies
To italicise or not to italicise
0 Fowler states that it is 01 b 00 customary 02 b 00 to italicise "non-naturalised words" to warn the reader that something unusual is coming. (!) 02 br
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00 At what point do we decide whether a word or phrase has become "naturalised"? It has been suggested to me that I 01 b 00 must 02 b 00 italicise 'de facto', but it seems to me that this is used so frequently that it is may be counted as "naturalised". 02 br
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00 What about "referrendum"? It is "naturalised" if you use the plural "referrendums", but counts as non-naturalised if you use the plural "referrenda". Should I then write 01 i 00 referrendum 02 i 00 to indicate that I prefer the plural 01 i 00 referrenda 02 i 02 br
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00 As it is a "custom", is it really necessary to get one's knickers in a twist? 05 0 02 br
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00 At what point do we decide whether a word or phrase has become "naturalised"? It has been suggested to me that I 01 b 00 must 02 b 00 italicise 'de facto', but it seems to me that this is used so frequently that it is may be counted as "naturalised". 02 br
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00 What about "referrendum"? It is "naturalised" if you use the plural "referrendums", but counts as non-naturalised if you use the plural "referrenda". Should I then write 01 i 00 referrendum 02 i 00 to indicate that I prefer the plural 01 i 00 referrenda 02 i 02 br
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00 As it is a "custom", is it really necessary to get one's knickers in a twist? 05 0 02 br
010id 8
Top answer
0 I let the lexicographers do the naturalizing, Abbie. I guide myself on whether the word is in the main body of the dictionary (and is therefore a word accepted into English), or in the back section of 'Foreign Words and Phrases'. ).
- 0 I let the lexicographers do the naturalizing, Abbie.
- I guide myself on whether the word is in the main body of the dictionary (and is therefore a word accepted into English), or in the back section of 'Foreign Words and Phrases'.
- ).
- 02 br 02 br 00 Bottom line: I would suggest doing what raises the fewest eyebrows among your readership, as you want them to hang on your meaning, not on your typography.
- Personally, I would consider unnecessary italicization pedantic-- if I can I use that word without offense here.
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2 Answers
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0 I let the lexicographers do the naturalizing, Abbie. I guide myself on whether the word is in the main body of the dictionary (and is therefore a word accepted into English), or in the back section of 'Foreign Words and Phrases'. 02 br
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00 According to 01 i 00 Webster's Collegiate 02 i 00 , 'de facto' has been in the language since the early 1600s, while '
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00 According to 01 i 00 Webster's Collegiate 02 i 00 , 'de facto' has been in the language since the early 1600s, while '
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0 It was actually in a letter, Mr.M, and I could have been cross! Raise eyebrows? The thought of a sharp pencil came to mind!! 02 br
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00 Thank you for your response; I shall continue using it as I have always done - sans itallics. I think it's a bit patronising to "warn" people that I'm going to use it. 02 br
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00 "Look out - here comes a big word whi
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00 Thank you for your response; I shall continue using it as I have always done - sans itallics. I think it's a bit patronising to "warn" people that I'm going to use it. 02 br
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00 "Look out - here comes a big word whi
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